Switch.



. No. 876,055. I I PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

0. H. HOLLEY.

Y SWITCH; APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1905.

ployed. to. indicate corresponding UN TED" STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CARL HIRAM HOLLEY, OF VISALIA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRED Gr.

HAMILTQNQOF VISALIA, CALIFORNIA.

swrrcn.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL H'IRAM HoLLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Visalia, in the county of Tulare and State of California, have invented a new and useful Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the protection of electric circuits and translating devices from high voltage currents, and the like, and has for its principal object to provide a combination switchand fuse in which any are that may form on the separation of I the switch members will be instantly extinguished.

A further. object of the invention is to provide a switch in which the circuit closing ternliinals are inclosed in separate 0i] recepta- 0 es.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of the type described in which the fuse arranged between the terminals of the movable switch member, has but a small portion of its length submerged in the oil, so that in case the fuse blows the oil will not be disturbed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch whichmay be safely operated without danger of setting fire to surrounding inflammable material and without danger of injury to the operator.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter a pear, the invention consists in certain nove features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a switch constructs ed in accordance with the IDVGIltlOrL Fig. 2

is a plan view of the base of the switch, the

ca and movable switch member being detached. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the movable switch member.

Similar numerals of reference are emarts throughout the several figures of the (rawings.

The body or base of'the device is formed Specification of Letters lPatent.

* Application filed June 16l 1905. $erial No. 265,629.

Patented Jan. 7, 1908.

of porcelain or similar insulatin material, and is approximately cylindrical in form. Projecting from one side of the base 10 are suitable lugs 11 having erforations for the passage of screws or simi ar securing devices for holding the switch in place.

The base is provided with a centrally disposed opening 12 which is extended in a dia-.

metrical ine and communicates with two passages 13, disposed at equal radial distances from the center of the base. The base is futher provided with two wells 14 that are disposed at points diametrically opposite each other, and in aplane at a right angle to a plane including the-axes of .the'two passages 13. The body of each well is extended to form a small compartment 15 for the reception of pendent tongues 16 carried by, or forming a part of metal clips 17 that are secured in position by suitable bolts 18. These clips are connected to main line. binding posts 19 by wires 20 that extend through suitable openings formed in the base, the uppper ends of the openings being arranged .a ove the level of-the oil in the wells in order to prevent leakage, and preferably these openin s contain a filling material21 of vulcanized hber or the like in order to prevent leakage of the oil. The binding posts 19 are rotected by a petticoat 23 that are prefera ly formed integral with the base i The movable switch member com rises a central vertically movable bar 23 t at extends through the opening 12, and is provided at its lower end with an operatinghandie 24. I At the top of the bar 23, and preferably formed integral therewith, are two 0 positely extendin arms 24' carrying vertically disposed parallel stems 25, the central bar, the arms, and stems 25 being preferably formed of porcelain or similar msulating material;

The two stems 25 extend down into .the wells l lfand their lower ends are submerged in oil. To the lower ends of the stems are secured metallic collars 26 carrying metallic tends through tubes 31, placed in the openings in the stems 25, said tubes being formed of vulcanized fiber or similar material. Each of the wells 14 is covered by a ring 32 that fits snugly around the stem 25, and is held down to its seat by a coiled compression spring 33. I

The upper ortion of the base is provided with an annu ar flange 34, on which is fitted a cap or cover 35, provided with openings 36 for ventilating purposes and to permit the escape of fumes in case of the blowing of a fuse.

In placing the switch member in position, its two arms 24 are turned to a position in alinement with the passages 13 of the base, and the handle bar 23 is pushed upward in order to introduce the arms and the stems above the base, after which the handle is turned to the extent of ninety degrees, and

the stems are lowered into the wells which have previously been supplied with a heavy mineral oil. and the blades 27 are entered between the When the handleis pulled down tongues 16, a circuit is closed between the .two binding posts, the current traveling over ing blown out of the wells.

Having thus desc ribed the invention, what is'claimed is 1. In a device of the class specified, a basehaving a pair of spaced independent oil'con taining wells, and provided with a pair of laterally projecting hoods, binding o'sts' secured to the base and shielded by said hoods, submer ed terminals at the bottoms of the wells, eectrical conductors extending from the terminals to the binding posts and passing through openings in the base, theupper ends of said openin s being in a horizontal plane above the leve of the oil to prevent the escape of the latter, a movable switch member comprising a bar, arms projecting therefrom,-stems carried by said arms, circuitclosing blades carried by the stems and arranged to engage with the terminals, the basehav ing a vertical passage for the bar, said passage being widened to permit the passage of the stems and arms, and the bodily removal of-the-switch member through the bottom of such base member.

2. In a device of the class specified, a base member having a 1pair of spaced inde endent oil containing wel and provided wit a central passage between the wells, the passage being widened transversely, a pair of arms, a bar'c'arrying the same, and movable vertically and revolubly in the central opening, a pair of stems carried by said arm, circuit closing members carried by the stems, submerged terminals at the bottoms of the wells arranged to be engaged by the circuit closing members, and a' cap or dome covering the base and spaced thereabove a distance suflicient to permit the insertion and removal of the switch member through the central opening of the base.

3. In a device of the class described, a base member having a pair of spaced and independent oil containing Wells, submerged terminals disposed in thewells, current conductors connected to the terminals,' there being openings formed in the base for the conductors, the'u per ends of said ,op'enings bein' l iove the level of *the'oil, a jverti dis osed a g I cal y movable switch member-{comprising a central bar, a pair of arms extendingtherefrom, stems dependingfrom the barand pro- 3 vided'with openings metallic collars secured to the ends ofthe stems and having blades arranged to engage with 'thesubnier'ged ter minals, a fusible connection between the collars, well coverin throughwhi'ch the stems extend, an spr ngs "surrounding said stems and tendin to hold theri'ngs in place.

In testimony t at I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature inthe pres'enceoftwo witnesses. Y

' "CARL HIRAM HOLLEY. Witnesses:

H. H. HOLLEY, i W. SHANK. 

